Amscan Prove Too Strong For Rivals

Game 1

SAS 136-4 (Wooster 28, Hawkins 27) beat
SSE 98ao by 38 runs

Game 2

Amscan 170-5 (Gordon 84, Lyon 34, Ebrahim 20, Tate 3-53) beat
SSE 130-5 (Esson 67, Wright 3-12) by 40 runs

Game 3

Amscan 190-6 (Ebrahim 60, Elliott 41, Wright 40, Chitale 1-4) beat
SAS 169-6 (Annis 41*, Hawkins 30, Burrows 28, Lyon 3-16) by 21 runs

A windy but warm day accompanied hosts SAS as they welcomed the visiting corporate cricket teams of SSE and the 2010 defending champions Amscan.

Despite much weekend rain, play started on time and save for a half hour interruption for more rain and the subsequent loss of eight overs, the day went ahead as planned with all three games being completed.

The opening match saw SAS take on Southern Electric, who as well as being sponsors of the ECB Southern Premier League, also recently had their own eight-a-side cricket festival at Petersfield CC involving ten teams from all over the UK.

With this as a warm up, much was expected from the SSE team and they were soon in their stride by taking early wickets as SAS looked to put a decent score on the board.
 
The second innings did not begin well for SSE as two quick wickets out them behind the asking rate.

Only a late flurry from Nausad (24) gave them any hope, however after two run-outs the result was never in doubt as SAS went on to win comfortably.

After a superb lunch in the pavilion, game two saw the losers of the first game, SSE, stay on to play Amscan.  This turned out to be a higher-scoring game than the first, as a fine knock from Gordon (84) regularly dispatched the bowling to various parts of the ground.

Good support from Lyon (34) and former Zimbabwe international Dion Ebrahim (20) took Amscan’s total to a commanding 170-5 off their allotted 20 overs. Only Kevan Tate was successful, although expensive as he took 3-53 from his four overs.

In reply, only Charlie Esson (67) was able to make any headway as tight bowling restricted SSE to only 130-5.  Ben Wright (3-12) was the most successful bowler backed up by good fielding from the whole team.

So to the final game of the day which saw the hosts SAS play Amscan, both with one win apiece.  The holders batted first and amassed a very impressive 190-6, largely due to the consistent hitting of Ebrahim (60), captain Rick Elliot (41) and Wright (40). At one point, it was almost raining boundaries as the SAS bowlers tried to keep the score to a minimum.

In reply, SAS captain David Annis (41 not out) led the way and with some late support from Hawkins (30) and Burrows (28), there was still a chance of reaching the large total.  Sadly for the hosts, it was not to be as Lyon (3-16) nipped in to take the wind out of their sails and they ran up 21 runs short to give the honours to Amscan.

© Cricket World 2011